Here are 36 reasons to Live In The Green(R) – all scientifically proven. Reducing stress and increasing happiness is a healthy sustainable lifestyle with lots of positive attributes.
Click here to read the full article!
Stress In The Workplace Affects You And Your Boss
Posted on July 10th, 2012 by Donald WilliamsAt The Oxygen Plan, we have been working to communicate and educate employers about the adverse impact of stress on employee health as well as the associated costs to the employer. As examples, here are some our favorite and, by now, familiar yet always stunning statistics:
- Stress costs US employers $4 Billion per year, or 13% of GDP
- This translates to approximately $5000/employee/year (actual estimate is $4888)
- Stress is responsible for 70-95% of physician visits
- Stress is linked to the 6 leading causes of death
- Stress is a significant risk factor of a myriad of other health conditions and chronic diseases, all of which compound health care costs and erode employee engagement & profitability.
That’s why this morning, on the Today Show, we were glad to see a segment on stress, further emphasizing the importance of addressing stress in our lives:
- People in the US spend approximately $800 million per year on anti-anxiety medications
- In the US, 1 million employees miss work every day due to stress
- Stress can make your “real” or biological age as much as 32 years older than your chronological age, largely due to the stress hormone, cortisol
- Chronic stress causes brain cells to deteriorate and die, contributing problems with memory, attention and concentration.
Take a look at this clip from the Today Show
So, more bad news. But as we at The Oxygen Plan emphasize even more – also highlighted on the Today Show – the good news is that individuals can reverse and minimize these effects on health by understanding how stress impacts health, measuring that impact, then taking steps to better manage that stress. Employers can dramatically improve their bottom line by doing the same for their employees.
Sleeping isn’t just a nice thing to do, it is very essential to overall health and wellness.
According to a new study, 60% of American adults aren’t getting the required number of sleep hours for a healthy lifestyle.
At The Oxygen Plan, we call sleep a Green Action(TM) – because it is a positive healthy lifestyle choice.
Challenge yourself to get more sleep every night for a week and see how you feel.
Your ‘Toxic Friends’ Are Actually Toxic
Posted on March 2nd, 2012 by Donald WilliamsAt The Oxygen Plan, we measure stress across home, work and social dimensions with our Stress Test™. And according to our basic, underlying principles, scores in the red suggest there are toxic people, places and/or things in our lives. Turns out, that may well be true for certain “friends” we have in our lives…
Americans’ Financial Distress Is Getting Worse Again
Posted on February 24th, 2012 by Donald WilliamsAmericans’ economic health appears to be edging closer to code red as we head into the holiday season. A report released Thursday showed that the Consumer Distress Index fell sharply in the third quarter, indicating that more of us are falling behind financially.
The quarterly analysis from nonprofit credit counseling agency CredAbility looks at five data points: housing prices, employment rates, credit usage, spending and net worth for the average U.S. household. The index grades economic health on a 100-point scale: Any rating below 70 signals distress. But the latest report showed the national number dropped to 66.7 from 69.2, reversing gains from earlier in the year…
6 Weird Signs You’re Way Too Stressed Out
Posted on February 1st, 2012 by Donald WilliamsIs stress causing your hair to fall out? Take a few moments to check in with your body to make sure you’re not sacrificing your health and mental well-being. Physical symptoms of stress, such as dry heaving, can manifest themselves in weird ways when the affairs of life get too overwhelming. And sometimes, you may not even realize that stress is the cause…
Research has long since established that stress can be toxic to our health, but a recent study sheds some new light on just how damaging stress really is:
People from many countries admitted in this latest study conducted by The Workforce Institute, the number one reason they call in sick when they aren’t, is stress. Workers said they’re be less likely to take mental health days if they had more paid time off, were able to work flexible hours, or could choose compressed work weeks. And some employees who appeared to be playing hooky said they used their sick time to take care of sick children or run personal errands that a minimal amount of paid leave didn’t allow for.
Do you call in stressed? What impact does it have on your business? Employees are feeling more and more stressed, what can you do to help your employees? Read about The Oxygen plan for your business.
Obesity and How It Effects You
Posted on September 7th, 2011 by Donald WilliamsObesity in America is on the rise, this is no surprise. But half of Americans to be labeled obese by 2030, this, is worrisome.
We know that stress can lead to weight gain which could end up leading to obesity, so how can we stop it? When we Live in the Green® we can help to reduce our stress and in turn our weight gain. Many of our Green goals include activity and can be useful in more than just reducing our stress levels; it can have health benefits also! Read the shocking article below and look into the activity level in your Green goals!
Helping Kids Deal With Back-To-School Stress
Posted on August 31st, 2011 by Donald WilliamsAs adults we deal with stress on a daily basis, so often, that for some of us it’s just a part of life. But are our children dealing with stress also?
Testing in schools is starting at a very young age and with that comes test stress. You can help your child deal with high levels of cortisol which signify stress by working together to prepare for tests to ensure they are ready and knowledgeable. Studying in a technology free environment is the most beneficial way to sustain information and equip them to be well prepared.
Techniques to help your child with test stress include having them write down the negative thoughts they have about the test and then keep them in their pocket so they have already exhausted them and are not focusing on the negative during the test taking process. Another useful technique is to share your experiences with your child about a time where you thought you wouldn’t do well at something but then you did, so they can relate to what may at first seem like a negative experience can also be a positive one!
Communication with your child is key especially when it comes to their education. Now, your whole family can Live in the Green®.
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